NJVVMF's Salute to Patriotism Gala Hosts Ken Burns, on 50th Anniversary of Vietnam War

The New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation’s Annual Salute to Patriotism Gala will celebrate the 22nd anniversary of the Memorial and honor prolific documentarian Ken Burns for his work on the documentary, The Vietnam War, which he produced with partner, Lynne Novick and will air on PBS this Sunday, September 17.

“I’m so honored to be invited to be with the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation the evening of October 27th.” Burns said. “The Foundation operates the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial, honoring the 1,563 New Jerseyans who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War. Adjacent, the Vietnam Era Museum is among the first of its kind in the country devoted to gaining an understanding of the Era, the War in Southeast Asia and its lasting impact on American culture. Being there holds great importance for me as our series, The Vietnam War, will be broadcast on PBS the last two weeks of September. This is indeed a timely event, and one I’m very much looking forward to.”

The Salute to Patriotism Gala will be held Thursday, October 27th, with a reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner and a program at 6:30 p.m., at the Eagle Oaks Golf and Country Club, 20 Shore Oaks Drive, Farmingdale, NJ. Since 1995, the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial has provided a place to honor those who have served and continue to serve our country. The Memorial is a place “To Remember, To Heal, To Honor” through ceremonies and outreach programs. The adjacent Vietnam Era Museum is the only museum of its kind in the country.

New Jersey native, Michael Heaney, a retired lawyer and college professor, now travels extensively as a guest lecturer sharing history and lessons of the Vietnam War with a variety of audiences. Heaney’s story and perspective are featured in three of the ten episodes of The Vietnam War, and he is unequivocal in his support for the project, “The film has been really - and it’s not an exaggeration to say - it’s been a life-altering event for me. I’ve met such good people with good hearts who are trying to tell the story of Vietnam honestly; and that’s very hard to do as it’s so complicated. There are so many lessons we can learn from that war that could help us negotiate some of the dangerous situations we face today, and we just don’t know enough -- we haven’t learned those lessons. I try to bring that to my audiences. This project (The Vietnam War) does that.”

In addition to his teaching and other service to the Veteran community, Heaney sees the Burns-Novick project as a perfect vehicle to give a voice to those who died in service to their country and to those survivors who were never welcomed back. He speaks of the ten “beloved men” of his platoon who were lost in a brutal, horrifying battle, “I’ve been on a mission since 1967 to keep the memories alive of the guys who went over there to do something important and never came back. Their voices can’t be heard. This (project) lets their voices be heard.”

Honoree Ken Burns has been making documentary films for almost forty years. Since the Academy Award nominated Brooklyn Bridge in 1981, he has gone on to direct and produce some of the most acclaimed historical documentaries ever made, including The Civil War; Baseball; Jazz; Frank Lloyd Wright; Mark Twain; Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson; Jackie Robinson; and, Defying the Nazis: The Sharps’ War.

Burns’ films have been honored with dozens of major awards, including fifteen Emmy Awards, two Grammy Awards and two Oscar nominations; and in September of 2008, at the News & Documentary Emmy Awards, he was honored by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Gala will feature an open bar, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, silent auction and live music. Tickets are $225 for individuals and $450 for couples. A special VIP ticket including a private, cocktail-hour meet and greet with Burns is available for $350 per individual. Dress is business attire.’’

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 732-335-0033 or visit the Foundation’s Gala event page.